How Much Does It Cost to Build a Swimming Pool?

Find Out How Much Your Perfect Swimming Pool Will Cost

At Compass Pools, one of the most common questions that we are asked is: how much to build a swimming pool? We understand that cost is a huge consideration when it comes to buying a pool but unfortunately this is a very difficult question to answer. This is because there are so many different design options and choices to be made before you can even get an idea of what it might cost.

Firstly, you’ll need to choose between an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. For indoor pools you have a more complex range of factors in the cost including extending or altering your home in order to hold the pool, as well as paying for the pool itself. Generally the building and alteration costs to your home will cost anywhere from £800 to £2,000 per square metre, while the cost of the pool will be around £1,500 to £3,000 per square metre. You’ll also need to consider issues such as air handling within the pool room and the pool cover. A medium spec pool around the size of 40 square metres inside a building could cost somewhere in region of £180,000.

There are a broader variety of options for outside pools, although you don’t need to factor in building costs, so it can be much cheaper. At Compass Pools we specialise in ceramic pools, but we have attempted to give a full overview of all of the types available and the kind of costs you can expect.

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Average Cost of Different Outdoor Pool Types

Inflatable/vinyl or PVC swimming pool

These are effectively glorified paddling pools. They are by far the cheapest way to have a swimming pool in your garden. They are usually installed with a steel frame and have a small water cartridge. They can only be used in the summer as they would not survive winter weather. However they can be ideal as a short term solution if you’re just looking for somewhere to have a quick dip during hot summer days.

Average cost: £50 to £1,000

Solid above ground swimming pool

The next step up, these solid pools are usually made from wood or steel panels with a circular frame. Generally they are installed by keen DIYers – it’s quick and simple, and pools of this type will typically last for around five years before they need any significant work. As they have a liner, it’s wise to avoid taking anything sharp into the pool, although the liner will need replacing periodically anyway.

Average cost: £1,500 to £10,000

Block and PVC liner pool

These are the most common types of pool found in the UK and are created using concrete blocks as the base with a vinyl liner. This is one of the cheapest ways of creating a permanent pool but it’s not without its drawbacks. Concrete is unforgiving of any ground movement so the base can crack. Liners also require replacing every five years or so, and can be fairly prone to punctures which can be difficult to find.

Average cost: £25,000 to £70,000

Fibreglass and polyester pool

These are built using the same principals as the Compass ceramic pools – they are delivered in one piece and are craned directly into an excavated hole. This means that they are quick to install and require little maintenance when compared to concrete pools with a PVC liner. Unfortunately due to the nature of the material they are prone to osmosis: having ground water pass through the shell and into the pool, which can cause staining and ultimately even the failure of the shell. They are also limited to a temperature of 28 degree due to the material.

Average cost: £20,000 to £65,000

Compass ceramic pools

Ceramic pools are lifted into an excavated hole, allowing for quick and easy installation and benefit from all of the advantages of one piece fibreglass and polyester pools, but without the temperature restrictions or the risk of osmosis. They require far less maintenance and are far less fragile than almost any other option.

Concrete swimming pool with tiles

Concrete pools have the advantage that they can be built into virtually any shape or size – however they do have risks associated with them. Firstly, they can be extremely costly and time-consuming to install; the weather can play havoc with your installation, as well as any ground movement in areas with sandy or clay soil. These types of pool are also much more expensive to heat.

Average cost: £45,000 to £150,000+

Compass Pools has extensive experience in designing and building swimming pools and we are always happy to provide you with advice and guidance.

Green Swimming

What our clients say about us…

Compass were great throughout the whole process of choosing a pool, ordering it, installing it and tweaking any slight changes since it was finished. It has now been in for a year and I swim every day before breakfast regardless of the weather, snow on the ground etc.
We have recently had a pool house finished so I can go straight from the pool into the shower without having to dry first!
I would thoroughly recommend Compass for the products they sell and for the service that they provide.

There are two aspects to the company, the people and the product. I can't fault either of them. The people are friendly, expert and very helpful.
Theirs is a premium product but worth it. The build quality is first rate and the operating system options can give you a package as sophisticated as you wish.